VERIFY: CDC did not recommend shaving beards to protect against coronavirus

The infographic regarding facial hair and masks was posted in 2017 and is unrelated to the current virus outbreak.

Author: VERIFY, Jason Puckett (TEGNA), David Tregde, Terry Spry Jr.

Published: 9:47 PM EST February 26, 2020

Updated: 6:02 PM EST February 27, 2020

National news and local news outlets alike have shared a CDC infographic with similar captions: the CDC says to shave your beard to reduce the risk of infection from the latest coronavirus, called COVID-19.

The blog post warned that facial hair that crosses the respirator’s seal could prevent the mask from sealing properly and thus allow particles, vapors and gases in through the mask and into the user’s respiratory system.

Even then, the CDC didn’t recommend people do away with facial hair entirely -- they just urged them to get creative with their participation in No Shave November. Small mustaches and beards were still okay.

The CDC’s FAQ page said they do not recommend people who are healthy wear facemasks to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and individuals should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it.

They do recommend people who are sick wear facemasks to reduce the risk they infect others. The CDC also says facemasks are crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19.

So the CDC never said individuals should shave their beards to protect themselves from the coronavirus. Their infographic only really applies to people who would need masks, such as people who are already sick or doctors taking care of people with the virus.